'Form panel to look into Jaber bridge bidding'

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 23:  Bedoun Affairs Commit-tee Chairman at the Parliament MP Hassan Jowhar on Wednesday expressed dismay over the nonchalant attitude of the Ministry of Interior officials on the violent clashes between the security officers and Bedouns, who participated in the protest actions in Jahra and Sulaibiya several days ago.

Speaking to reporters after the panel's meeting with its Human Rights counterpart and the ministry officials, Jowhar lamented the attitude of the officials clearly reflects the government's refusal to cooperate with the MPs. "Despite our invitation to the concerned officials at the National Security Apparatus and Special Forces to shed light on the issue, none of them attended the meeting. This only means that the executive authority is not willing to cooperate with the legislature," he asserted.

Jowhar pointed out the government must realize the importance of including the issue in the agenda of the March 8 legislative session to prevent the recurrence of the violent confrontations and demonstrations in the future.

On the other hand, MP Musallam Al-Barrak said the ministry is not ready to respond to the queries of the lawmakers on the demonstrations. He is of the view that if Kuwait addressed the problems of Bedouns long ago, there would not have been any demonstration.  "All they have been asking for are their civil and social rights, including the right to obtain important documents like marriage, birth and death certificates, but no tangible step has been taken until now," he added.

Al-Barrak disclosed the members of both panels will meet again on March 3 and they will invite the concerned ministers, as well as Chairman of the Central System for Resolving the Bedoun Issue Saleh Al-Fadhalah. 

The lawmaker also appealed to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to immediately take the necessary action if the government is really serious in its bid to end the suffering of Bedouns.

In an unrelated development, some lawmakers have called for the formation of a parliamentary committee to look into the procedures taken in the Jaber Bridge Project bidding. This came after the publication of reports in some local newspapers on the alleged irregularities in the tender.

MP Naji Al-Abdulhadi affirmed his full support for the proposed formation of the committee to determine if the allegations are true or not. He urged the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) to review the project thoroughly to avoid the recurrence of the problems encountered in the 2007 Emergency Power Project.

MP Hussein Mezyed stressed the need for the immediate formation of the panel and to postpone the awarding of the project until the issue is resolved. He claimed there are opportunists in and outside the Ministry of Public Works and they have been interfering in the awarding of the project. He said those proven to have manipulated the procedures should be held responsible.       

© Arab Times 2011